Dr. Nataro's multi-disciplinary research program focuses on enteric bacterial infections, principally diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella spp. His seminal observations include the discovery of enteroaggregative and diffusely adherent E. coli pathotypes, the introduction of the first molecular probe for enteropathogenic E. coli, the discovery of a large number of virulence factors and mechanisms, and the construction of several vaccine candidates. He has made pivotal contributions to understanding the roles of diarrheagenic E. coli in human disease. Dr. Nataro has trained a large number of undergraduate, graduate, medical (including three MD/PhD students), as well as many post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty. While Head, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics at the University of Maryland, he mentored several young faculty to their first NIH awards.